Obama said it's important to have a civil conversation and that "wild accusations" won't solve a problem.

"We have to get to the point where we can have a conversation about big, important issues that matter to the American people without vitriol, without name-calling without the assumption of the worst in other people's motives," the president said, adding that Americans "are turned off when they see people using wild accusations, false claims, name-calling, and sharply ideological approaches to solving problems. They want pragmatism."

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Obama added that he also hopes "some of the fever breaks a bit" after Wednesday night's incident.

Wilson offered a written apology to the president soon after his address.

"This evening I let my emotions get the best of me when listening to the president's remarks regarding the coverage of illegal immigrants in the health care bill," he said. "While I disagree with the president's statement, my comments were inappropriate and regrettable. I extend sincere apologies to the president for this lack of civility."

"I will not permit reform to be postponed or periled by the usual ideological diversions," Obama said today at the White House, following his speech to a joint session of Congress last night. "We don't need more partisan distractions."